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NITED STATES ATI-NT Orrick.`

JAMES A. IVARD, OF DELTA, IDAHO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS J.

HAUCK AND FRANK M. IIAUOK, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,606, dated May 19, 1896. Application mea January 15,1896. serial No. 575,636. (No maar To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JAMES A. WARD, of Delta, in the county of Shoshone and State of Idaho, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to car-couplings of the side-latching or Janney type, and has for its object to provide novel, simple, and practical features of construction for a car-coupling of the indicated character which will adapt it for reliable operation, dispense with a loose pintle-bolt between the knuckle and draw-head, afford a cheap and durable hingejoint between said parts, and, furthermore, adapt the improved car-coupling for ready release when in a'coupled condition with a similar coupling.4

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, as is hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming` a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a partly sectional plan view of one of the improved couplings and a plan view of a similar coupling adjacent thereto, showing the knuckles of both couplings partially closed, the section-line being indicated at l 1 in Fig. 5. Fig. 2 is a plan view of two couplings having the features of improvement, one in section showing the'couplings in coupled condition, the section being indicated by line 2 2 in Fig. 3. Figr is a longitudinal sectional view substantially on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view essentially on the line 4 4 in Fig. 2, showing the coupling-key lowered to lock working parts in closed adjustment, and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 5 5 in Fig. l.

The draw-head l() is preferably cast into form from suitable metal, and has a chamber a produced in it of suitable dimensions extending from the front rearwardly, the said chamber having its top and bottom Walls parallel. A horn 10 is formed on the draw-head, curving outward and forward from one side wall of the same, and at the front on the opposite side wall integral therewith and also with the bottom Wall a cylindric formation h is produced, extending vertically from `the upper surface of the lower wall of the drawhead to the top surface of the same.

A knuckle l1 is provided, comprising the coupling-jaw Illn and tailpiece 1lb, these parts, which are integral, being angularly disposed with regard to each other. The jaw 11 is preferably rendered convex on its outer face, is flat or nearly so on its opposite or inner face, and has its free end rounded, as shown in Figs. l and 2. A cylindric channel c is produced in the knuckle at the junction of itscoupling-jaw and tailpiece, and the said channel is essentially at right angles to the upper and lower faces of the coupling-jaw. The channel c is open on the outer side of the knuckle and has such a diameter as will adapt the cylindric formation l) to enter and loosely fit in said channel if the knuckle is slid thereon starting from the upper end of the said formation.

The web d on the side Wall of the drawhead which joins the formation o thereto is of such relative thickness compared with the width of the lateral opening in the knucklechannel that when in position the knuckle will be permitted to rock ou the said cylindric portion b as on a pintle, so that the couplingjaw 1ln may be swung to open or close it.

` In order to permit the jaw of the knuckle torock on its joint into closed adjustment, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus couple with a similar jaw on another car-coupling of like construction, the upper side of the knuckle-jaw 11a is preferably cut away at the inner curved wall of the channel c, so that a portion of said wall may loosely iit between the parallel top and bottom walls of the draw-head chamber d when the knuckle-jaw is to be closed, and when so adjusted the portion which projects into the said chamber will serve to prevent the knuckle from upward displacement en the draw-head. s j

The width of the slotted opening in the wall of the channel c is so proportioned that lthe said channel-wall will exceed a half-circle in extent, and therefore when in position the knuckle will be prevented from lateral displacement, as the cylindric body of the pintle IOO formation l) cannot pass through the slotted opening mentioned.

It will be observed in Fig. 2 that the upright shoulder formed at e by the reduction in height of the inner Wall of the channel c will impinge the front edge of the top wall of the draw-head chamber a when the knucklejaw 11n is fully closed, and thus limit the closure of the knuckle. It will also be seen at the right in said ligure, where parts are in section, that the edge c' of the slotted open,- ing in the cylindric channel c which is innermost will contact with the inner surface of the web d at the time the shoulder eimpinges the front edge of the draw-head top wall, and this will strengthen the joint by throwing part of the pressure on said joint, due to a forcible closure of the knuckle on the web 0r the side wall of the draw-head. It is also preferrcd to make the jaw portion 11iL of the knuckle equal in vertical dimension with the vertical thickness of the draw-head 10, and if so made the knuckle at the j oint-channel c is cut away similarly to its reduction on the upper side, as already explained, which will permit the inner wall of the channel to rock into the chamber a when the knuckle is closed, this construction of parts being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Within the chamber a there is a slide-block 2 introduced, which is adapted to reciprocate therein, and said block is longitudinally slotted from the rear end parallel with its upper and lower sides, which are parallel with each other, the slot being indicated at f in Figs. 3, 1i, and 5. v

The slot f is adapted to loosely receive a ton gue-block 10a,that forwardly projects from the rear wall of the chamber a, which block affords support for the rear end of the slideblock 2 when it is reciprocated. The block 12 is also vertically and longitudinally slotted between its ends, as represented at g, this slot extending through the defining-walls of the horizontal slot f from a point near the rear end o-f the slide-block forwardly a correct distance.

The sides of the longitudinal slot g-are parallel or an equal distance apart, excepting that a notch 7L is laterally formed in the top wall of the slot fnear the front end of the same, extending vertically through said wall and partly through the lower wall thereof.

At a point so removed from the front edge of the top and bottom walls of the chamber a as to vertically aline it with the laterallynotched portion of the slet g in slide-block 12 when the latter is slid completely rearward in chamber d an L-shaped vertical perforation t' is formed in the upper wall of the draw-head, as best shown at the left in Figs. 1 and 2, and directly below said perforation a longitudinal slot c" of suitable length is formed in the lower wall of the draw-head chamber.

The tailpiece 11b is proportioned in length to allow its free rear end to lie opposite the' notch 71. in the slot g when the knuckle is closed and the slide-block 12 is rearwardly moved its full travel. A sufficient width is afforded the slot f to permit it to loosely receive the tailpiece 11b, and the latter is projected from the jaw 11a at such a point intermediate of its top and bottom edges as will permit the free rocking movement of the tailpiece in said slot j". To afford room for the tailpiece 11b, it is preferred to form a recess 7c in the side wall of the draw-head toward which the tailpiece folds when the knuckle is closed, and when the tailpiece occupies said recess the side of the same nearest the slide -block 12 is made to vertically aline with the adjacent side of the slot g, as is shown at the right in Fig. 2.

A toe p is formed on the side of the tailpiece 11b which is nearest the slide-block 12 when the knuckle is closed, and said toe is adapted to have contact on its front edge with the front wall of the horizontal slot f, so that the swinging movement of the knuckle outwardly will slide the block 12 outward. A locking-key 13 of suitable metal is provided to hold the tailpiece 11b from leaving the recess 7c when the knuckle is in coupled connection with asimilar knuckle on another draw-head, the said key being formed essentially as follows:

The body of the key has a wing m formed on its upper portion, which wing is laterally projected, affording an L shape in cross-section. The winged portion of the key is designed to loosely slide in thenotched portion of the slot g after passing through the L- shaped perforation t' in the draw-head, and said portion of the key has sufiicient length to permit one end of the same to project above the draw-head when the lower end of the wing m is seated in the depression formed to receive it in the lower wall of the horizontal slot f of the slide-block 12.

An integral extension or shank 13 projects from the body portion of the key 13, having the lateral wing m, this shank being adapted to slide in the vertical slot g of block 12 and also in the longitudinal slot in the lower wall of the draw-head. The key 13 in its body portion having the wing m has such a breadth, considered longitudinally of the draw-head and slide-block, as to adapt the key to loosely bear on the side of the tailpiece 11" when the key is in lowered adjustment, and to release the tailpiece the breadth of the shank portion 13 of the key is reduced sufficiently to allow the end of the tailpiece to lswing clear of the shank when the key has been elevated far enough to remove the wing m from the slide-block 12, as best shown in Fig. 5.

The lower end of the shank 13 is forwardly widened, and the front edge of this widened portion is preferably sloped, as shown in Fig. 3, to allow said end of the key to move freely through the key-slot fi', and it will be seen that the length of the shank portion of the IOO IIO

key 13 is so proportioned as to permit the widened part a of the shank to occupy the slot z" in the lower wall of the draw-head when the key is completely elevated for release of the knuckle, the widened part n serving to prevent a forward tipping of the key when in elevated position.

i Preferably there is a transverse perforation formed in the lower end of the key 13 for the reception of a cross-pin o, that is introduced after the key is in position, and said pin serves to prevent a removal of the key,

checking it when it is upwardly` slid far enough to release the knuckle.

It will be evident that when the key 13 is raised se aste remove the wing m from the block 12 the latter can be freely moved outward, as the shank 13 willwtraverse the vertical slot g from front to rear of said slot, and if the block 12 is moved more or less outward the lower end of the wing m may be seated en the top of the block at the side of the slot g, and in this manner the key will be retained in an elevated adjustment until the block is again slid rearward, so as to enter the wing m within the notch h.

lWhen the improved coupling is arranged A on a car, it is essential that the key 13 have a flexible connection with the usual rockshaft held on the end of the car and extended to the sides of the car-body, so that the key may be elevated thereby for the release of the knuckle, and as this is not a portion of the invention it is omitted from the drawings.

In operation, assuming that two cars having the improved couplings are made to appreach on the same railroad-track, and that p both couplings have their knuckles swung open, the jaws 11n of the knuckles will rst impinge, and then the ends ofthe slide-blocks 12 will contact with each other, resulting in the coupled connection of the car-couplings, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is evident that should one knuckle of two approaching couplings be closed and the other knuckle open the jaw 11n of the closed coupling will impinge the end of the advanced slide-block in the other coupling and push it into the draw-head, resulting in the dropping of the key 13, that has been previously in an elevated position, which will effeet the coupling together of both jaws 11 in an obvious manner.

It is claimed for this improvement that the formation of the integral pintle b and its rockable connection with the cylindrically-formed channel c in the knuckle 11 is a novel and very advantageous feature, as it is strong, easy to produce, affords a check to the rocking of the knuckle either in opening or closing it, and when closed prevents any possible displacement of the knuckle at its jointed connection with the draw-head. Furthermore, the provision of the longitudinallyslidable block 12 for the support of the key 13 and the peculiar formation of the key and also the construction of the tailpiece 11b on the knuckle, which adapts it to swing in the horizontal slot of the slide-block and push the latter out of the draw-head when the knuckle is swung open, are also novel and advantageous features of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent* 1. In a car-coupling, the combination with a draw-head, of a knuckle having a vertical channel formed in it to engage a pintle on one wall of the draw-head, the said knuckle havin g an outward opening of less width than the diameter of the pintle, the inner wall of said outward opening being adapted to engage the inner surface of the draw-head at the rear of the pintle, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination with a draw-head having a pintle formed on one of its side walls and a reducedor web portion between said wall and pintle, of a knuckle having a channel to engage the pintle, the said channel having an outward opening of less width than the diameter of the pintle, the inner wall of said outward opening being adapted to engage the inner surface of said reduced or web portion, substantially as described.

The combination with a chambered draw-head, and a knuckle hinged thereto and having a tailpiece, of a slide-block adapted to reciprocate in the draw-head, and having a horizontal and a vertical slot eXtendin g longitudinally thereimthe tailpiece swinging in the horizontal slot and contacting with its front wall to push the block out of the drawhead when the knuckle is opened, and alockin g-key for the knuckle, engaging the vertical slot in the sliding block, and adapted to be held elevated therein when the knuckle is open, and to fall to lock the knuckle when said knuckle is closed, substantially as described.

4. In a car-coupling of the construction described, the combination with a chambered draw-head, a knuckle hinged thereon, and a longitudinally-slotted slide-block movable in the draw-head, of a vertical locking-key working in perforations in the draw-head and through one of the slots in the slide-block, said key being adapted to lock the knuckletailpiece when the knuckle is closed and the slide-block is rearwardly moved in the drawhead, and also to release the knuckle and receive support from the slide-block when the key is lifted and the knuckle is opened, substantially as described. i

JAMES A. WARD.

Witnesses:

CHAs. T. 'Ioznara` Jos. C. WENDEL.

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